Stersporen

Stersporen, also known as sterigmata, are the reproductive structures of certain fungi, particularly those in the class Agaricomycetes. They are the fungal equivalent of animal sperm and are responsible for the sexual reproduction of these fungi. Stersporen are typically produced in the basidia, which are specialized cells found at the tips of gills or on the surface of some fungi. During sexual reproduction, two hyphae from different individuals fuse, and the nucleus of one hypha migrates to the other, forming a dikaryon. This dikaryon then undergoes meiosis to produce basidia, each containing four haploid nuclei. These nuclei undergo mitosis to form sterigmata, which release sterigmata, or sterigmata, into the environment. These sterigmata can then fuse with sterigmata from another individual, leading to the formation of a zygospore, which is the fungal equivalent of a zygote. The zygospore can then germinate to form a new individual, completing the sexual reproductive cycle of the fungus. Stersporen play a crucial role in the genetic exchange and diversity of fungal populations.